Applicator for hair dyes

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an applicator comprising an applicator device for applying a product fed from a separate supply to the application zone onto a strand of hair or fiber, and a strand gripper that can be moved back and forth between a closed position and a released position, which at least serves for guiding a strand in the region of the application zone by means of a guiding surface provided for this purpose, wherein the applicator device comprises an application body mounted on the applicator device such that it rotates when a hair or fiber strand is pulled through the intermediate space formed between it and the guiding surface of the strand gripper.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an applicator, comprising an applicator device for applying a product fed from a separate supply to the application zone onto a strand of hair or fiber comparable therewith, and a strand gripper that can be moved back and forth between a closed position and a released position. This strand gripper serves at least for guiding a strand in the area of the application zone by means of a guiding surface provided on it for this purpose. It is, however, also used beforehand in many cases for selecting the strand and for pulling the strand towards the application zone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various concepts for applicators for applying products to hair or fiber strands are known in the prior art.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,030,968 shows a tong-like device that can be casually called a strand tong. In this strand tong, the product to be applied is not fed to the application zone from a separate supply. Instead, the product to be applied is kept in store directly in the application zone. For this purpose, the one side of the strand tong has a bowl-like depression into which the product is filled prior to the start of the application. The other side of the strand tong is equipped with a projection intended to dip into the depression.

In the case of this strand tong, application takes place by placing a hair strand over the depression and then closing the strand tong. The projection thereby dips the hair or the hair strand into the depression and thus, into the product kept in store therein. The strand can now be pulled lengthwise through the product kept in store in the depression, and is thus loaded with the product.

It is evident that the strand tong must always be held as horizontally as possible during application in order to prevent the product kept in store in the depression of the strand tong from leaking. It is clear that this strand tong is therefore relatively impractical because it is difficult to continuously keep the strand tong horizontal when dyeing hair in inaccessible areas, such as the back of the head.

In addition, it is not possible in the case of this strand tong to dose the amount of the product that is applied onto the respective hair strand because the treated hair strand is inevitably completely dipped into the product kept in store in the depression. So long as the product to be applied has a water-like consistency, this does not yet present a very big problem. Because the excess of the product that the hair strand is incapable of absorbing drains off without further ado, so this at most gives rise to the problem that the product draining off drips off into the surroundings instead of returning to the depression.

However, grave problems arise if the product to be applied onto the hair strand has a higher-viscosity consistency, such as the modern hair dyes, which are often set up as pastes or gels in order to prevent the product from dripping off or wet the scalp in an uncontrolled manner. As a rule, much too much of such a product is applied onto the hair strand if such a strand tong is used for its application, in which the hair strand dips into the supply and is pulled through it indiscriminately.

In the end, the strand tong is also impractical because the work cannot be carried out continuously, but has to be interrupted time and again in order to top up the inevitably relatively small supply of the product to be applied, wherein, however, product which has not been used up and is still located in the depression at the end of the application can only be disposed because it has come into contact intensively with the hair strands previously dyed.

The American patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,069 shows a similar applicator. In contrast to the strand tong mentioned above, this, however, is not a tong-like device, but a scissor-like one, that is, a strand scissor. With regard to its mode of operation and its drawbacks, however, the strand tong and the strand scissor are very similar, so that the statements above regarding the strand tong also apply to the strand scissor.

Various generic applicators are known from the German patent application DE 10 2006 053 401.

A first exemplary embodiment of this patent application proposes an applicator, the external wall of which is extended and serves as a so-called selection member. This selection member has a cross section, which is approximately C-shaped and therefore not closed in itself, which is why it is rather chunky.

Using this selection member, a hair strand can be gripped from the totality of the hair and supplied to the application area. For this purpose, the extended part of the external wall is designed such that it comprises an oblique sliding surface which guides the gripped hair strand towards a groove. The hair strand to be dyed can be inserted into this groove in order to guide it past a brush-like application member, which in this case serves for applying the product or color. In this case, the groove cheeks and the groove bottom serve as a guiding surface guiding the hair strand and the applicator relative to each other when the hair strand glides through the application zone.

However, one-handed operation is not possible in this exemplary embodiment. Because since the groove is open, one hand is always required which tightens the strand and prevents it from slipping out of the groove, while the second hand is needed to pull the applicator along the strand. Though it is possible in this exemplary embodiment to dose the product to a certain extent, because the user can squeeze the dispensing bottle more or less firmly, which increases or reduces the product flow. However, dosing is only possible to a rudimentary extent, because the product is applied by means of an apparently rather long-bristled brush between whose parallel bristles a considerable amount of product can be stored temporarily, so that the increased or reduced pressure on the dispensing bottle is noticeable only with a considerable delay.

In a second exemplary embodiment proposed by this patent application, the area provided with the groove that acts as a guide is designed to be displaceable, so that this can indeed be called a strand gripper, which grips a strand and actively brings it into close contact with the applicator, which in this case is again brush-shaped. However, the groove is open to one side also in this exemplary embodiment, so that the problems described above are still in evidence. In addition, since this exemplary embodiment also proposes a long-bristled brush, this exemplary embodiment is also only capable of enabling a rudimentary dosing capability.

The patent application also provides a third exemplary embodiment.

The area provided with the groove is configured as a displaceable strand gripper also in this exemplary embodiment. This exemplary embodiment is improved in that it is possible here to push the groove of the strand gripper under a barb on the housing of the applicator, so that the gripped hair strand, which is guided to the application zone by means of the groove, is securely entrapped between the groove and the barb. Together with the barb, the groove exercises a guiding function, that is, guides the hair strand and the applicator relative to each other while the applicator is pulled along the strand.

However, a drawback in this case is that only a part of the guiding surface is formed on the moveable strand gripper, whereas a not inconsiderable second part of the guiding surface is formed on the barb that is rigidly attached to the housing. Thus, the guiding surface of the strand gripper only reaches over the application zone partially. Thus, the strand gripper is capable of keeping only the part of the strand remaining in its groove in intimate contact with the application zone, or actively press it onto the application zone, whereas another, not inconsiderable part of the strand slips into the groove, which is formed at a distance from the actual application zone and provides the barb. There, the strand comes into contact with the application zone in a significantly less intimate manner than the part of the strand that remained in the groove of the strand gripper.

The dosing problem also exists in this exemplary embodiment.

In order to achieve a really optimum result, the user, in view of this, is well advised always to guide also this applicator along the strand in such a way, if possible, that the strand, during its travel through the applicator, slides within the groove of the strand gripper almost completely, and does not escape upwards into the groove formed by the barbs. Because of this, this applicator also does not permit real one-handed operation, but requires increased attention during use.

Besides, there is always the risk that a part of the strand is inadvertently entangled in the barb when the strand is fed to the application area or when the strand is released, which can lead to an unpleasant tugging of the hair and, in addition, renders handling the applicator inconvenient.

Within the context of a fourth exemplary embodiment, the German patent application DE 10 2006 053 401 proposes to provide the applicator with a bent hook, which protrudes far beyond the application area. This bent hook is supposed to serve for gripping the hair strand to be dyed and to thread it into the application area by the user pushing it along the hook. The part of this hook facing the application area and a barb opposite to it are, in addition, supposed to serve to guide the hair strand in the application area during the application process.

This exemplary embodiment is also not capable of solving the dosing problem, because it still proposes a long-bristled brush.

However, the structure used for this exemplary embodiment is not capable of keeping the strand in direct contact with the application zone or even press it onto the application zone. This is due to the fact that the hook and the barb associated with it are largely immoveable, enclose between them a space in front of the application zone in their rest position, and are therefore incapable of acting on the hair strand in the vicinity of the application zone. The guide realized by the hook and the barb associated with it is thus restricted, more or less, to preventing the strand from slipping off laterally from the application area while the applicator is pulled along the strand.

In order to achieve a really good result, however, the user also in this case has to pay attention himself to always guide the applicator in such a way that the hair strand always remains in intimate contact with the brush, which in this case serves as the application body.

In view of this, it is the object of the invention to specify an applicator which avoids the drawbacks described, specifically the dosing problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the applicator device comprises a moveable application body mounted on the applicator device such that it rotates when a hair or fiber strand is pulled through the intermediate space formed between it and the guiding surface of the strand gripper. Such an application body, which moves during the application process, provides for a better distribution of the product to be applied onto and/or into the strand. Compared with the long-bristled brush used so far, an applicator device with such an application body additionally permits a significantly better controlled dosage—because the application body is smooth or has only a comparatively short-pile bristle covering, it is capable of storing significantly less of the product to be applied than the long-bristled brush proposed in the prior art.

All of those application bodies are to be called short-pile whose bristle covering is only so short that an appreciably torque can just be transmitted from the hair strand via the bristle covering onto the application body, which is not possible in the case of long-bristled bristles, because they buckle out prematurely.

In this case, it must be remarked that the moveable application body is an essential element of the invention, which may assume all possible forms of design, but which is not completely dispensable as such.

In the context of a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the strand gripper is configured such that its guiding surface, in its closed position, reaches over the application zone substantially completely and retains the strand in direct contact with the application body, preferably even actively pressing it on or against the application body.

This configuration of the strand gripper—at least subsequent to the proper introduction of the strand into the application—as a rule permits a real one-handed operation such that the applicator is held in one hand and is guided in such a way that the strand glides along its longitudinal direction through the application area. The strand gripper reaching completely over the application body, because of its further configuration, provides for the strand always to remain in direct contact with the application body, or even be pressed actively onto the application body, without any special action by the user.

Especially in the case of bottle applicators, such a one-handed operation at the same time permits a very sensitive dosage of the product to be applied onto the strand. This is due to the fact that the user is able to concentrate on uniformly squeezing the bottle just enough so that the desired amount of the product reaches the application area approximately continuously.

It is provided within the context of a preferred embodiment that the strand gripper has a preferably integral spring portion. The latter is configured such that, under the influence of a compression force applied onto the strand gripper by the user, it is deformed such that the strand gripper is transferred into its released position. Thus, a partially automatically functioning strand gripper can be realized with simple means, preferably as a one-piece injection-molded part, that is, as a disposable item.

In the context of another preferred embodiment, it is provided that the spring portion is configured such that, under the influence of the compression force exerted by the user, it is deformed such that the portion of the strand gripper providing the guiding surface executes a movement directed substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. Such a configuration permits gripping the next strand intended for application in a particularly convenient manner, because said portion of the strand gripper can be pushed behind a hair strand without having to pass the dispensing bottle of the applicator or the handle of the applicator, which is alternatively supplied by means of a dosing pump, parallel to the head of the customer who is supposed to have highlights made.

Preferably, the applicator device, in the region of its mouth, carries guiding members or guiding surfaces which prevent a strand pulled in its longitudinal direction over the mouth from slipping into an area outside of the mouth. These guiding surfaces, which as a rule are rigidly attached, support the effect of the guiding surface of the strand gripper, because they complement the strand gripper with regard to their effect. This is due to the fact that the strand gripper inherently has certain difficulties with preventing individual tufts of hair of a strand from laterally slipping out of its sphere of influence. In this regard, the gliding surfaces, which prevent exactly this, are useful.

In the context of another preferred embodiment, it is provided that the applicator device has a mouth in whose area it carries supporting members or is provided with supporting surfaces against which the gripper portion can support itself under the influence of the frictional forces that a strand exerts, which, in its longitudinal direction, is pulled over the mouth or the application body located there. Such a configuration permits configuring the portion of the strand gripper providing the guiding surface particularly delicately, in order thus to form a strand needle that can be handled optimally, without having to fear that this portion is weakened to an extent where it is deformed so much, when the strand is pulled, that its function is jeopardized.

Further preferred design possibilities, advantages and modes of action become apparent from the following description of two exemplary embodiments of the applicator according to the invention given with reference to numerous figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the applicator according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the applicator according to FIG. 1, seen from the side of the strand gripper.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the strand gripper of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the applicator according to FIG. 1, seen from the side opposite the strand gripper.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the section along the line marked in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the section along the line marked in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the nozzle in an isolated representation, as it is used for the applicator according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the nozzle shown by FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a section through the nozzle shown by FIG. 8 along the line of cut marked in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a section through the nozzle shown by FIG. 7 along the line of cut marked in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 shows the detail X from FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 shows a top view onto the nozzle shown by FIGS. 7 and 8, vertically from above.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show a first variant of the application body as it is also used by the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show a second variant of the application body as it is also used by the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 19 to 21 show a third variant of the application body as it is also used by the first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 22 to 27 show an isolated representation of the strand gripper as it is used for the first exemplary embodiment, seen from various viewing angles.

FIGS. 27 a to 29 show a second exemplary embodiment of the invention when the strand gripper is closed, seen from different viewing angles.

FIGS. 30 to 33 show the second exemplary embodiment of the invention when the strand gripper is opened, seen from different viewing angles.

FIGS. 34 to 38 show an isolated representation of the strand gripper as it is used for the second exemplary embodiment, seen from various viewing angles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As was already stated above, FIG. 1, with which the description is now to be begun, shows an applicator according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The applicator shown here is intended for dyeing fine strands of fibers or hair (or “strands of keratinic fibers”), the diameter of which is, as a rule, less than 1.5 millimeters and most frequently is about 0.5 millimeters.

The applicator in this case consists of a typical plastic bottle, which is not shown, onto which the nozzle 1 shown by FIG. 1 is fitted. A larger supply of the product to be applied onto the hair strand is contained in said bottle. The product to be applied is fed to the applicator device 8 integrated into the nozzle via the nozzle, which on its inside is configured to be hollow, so that continuous work is possible with the applicator.

On the side facing the bottle, the nozzle 1 comprises a bottle connector 2, which, as a rule, is equipped with a thread on its inside and is screwed onto the dispensing bottle. Instead of using a thread, the nozzle can also be connected with the bottle using a latching or compression connection.

The bottle connector 2 is adjoined by a substantially tubular functional portion of the nozzle, which forms a spout 3. The spout preferably has an elliptical or, in one direction, compared with a circular cross section, oblate cross section. Such a cross-sectional shape is beneficial for accommodating the application body, which is to be described in more detail later, and which expediently is not too narrow, without making the spout 3 too chunky, in order to be able to treat the fine hair strands with it. The product stored in the bottle is fed via this spout to the applicator device 8, which is integrated into the spout 3 at its free end.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a section through the area of the mouth at the free end of the nozzle or its spout 3, and illustrate the details of the applicator device 8. In this embodiment, the applicator device 8 is formed by the wall portions of the nozzle 1 formed appropriately in the region of the mouth, or by its spout 3, and by the application body 5 inserted therein. Here, the application body 5 is configured as a rotatable application roller. In order to achieve a better distribution of the product to be applied, the application body 5, in the region in which it can be brought into contact with the strand as intended, is configured such that it has a ball-like external outline, preferably a drum-like external outline. At its outer circumference, which can be brought into contact with the strand as intended, the application body can have a smooth surface, but preferably has a bristle covering, just like the application body shown by the Figures, which is configured in the form of a round brush.

It is noted that the application body, especially even if it is configured to be smooth, ideally consists of a soft elastic material or an elastomeric material, at least in its area that can be brought into contact with the strand as intended. This material is selected such that strong friction occurs between the strand and it even in the case where the material is wetted with the product to be applied. It is thus ensured that the application body is always sufficiently driven by the strand.

It is remarked, as an aside, that the application body can of course have an external drive, which, however, generally entails an increased effort, is incompatible with a disposable product, and is therefore unwanted in a large part of cases—in contrast, the “positive drive” by means of the hair strand is as effective as it is simple.

The product to be applied is fed to the application body 5 via the interior channel 6 from the supply kept ready in the bottle. Thus, the application body 5 is charged with the product to be applied on its side facing away from the hair strand. The application body 5 rotates under the influence of the forces that a strand pulled across it exerts. In this manner, it conveys the product from out of the channel 6 and loads the strand with it.

If the application body 5 has the form of a brush, it will, as a rule, not only deposit the product on the strand, but will at the same time ensure that the product is worked into the strand or that the product is better distributed in the strand. In this case, the application body 5 is preferably covered with a number of individual bristles that locally protrude in the radial direction.

The interior channel 6 has a narrowed portion 7 directly in front of the application body 5, seen in the flow direction. This narrowed portion 7 forms a kind of aperture. As a rule, it also increases the length of the gap between the application body 5 and the walls surrounding it. The narrowed portion 7 thus affects the dosage of the product to be applied—the narrowed portion 7 prevents an immediate application of an amount of product that is too large in the case of a greater pressure on the dispensing bottle. In addition, it provides for the application body 5 to be uniformly charged.

It must be remarked in this case that the narrowed portion 7 forms an intermediate space between its downstream side and the mouth. The application body 5 partially dips into this intermediate space. The part of the application body 5 dipping into this intermediate space is freshly charged there with the product to be applied and carries the product to be applied through the defined gap, which it forms together with the walls of the spout 3 surrounding it, to the outside. Once again, an overdosage is prevented by this defined gap, so that an exceptionally drop-free work is possible with the applicator according to the invention.

The free end of the nozzle 1 or of its spout 3 is provided with guiding surfaces 10 and supporting surfaces 9 behind the application body 5, as seen in the flow direction. In the exemplary embodiment described herein, the guiding and supporting surfaces are located on merlon-like members 11 which give the free end the look of a tower cupola. Four of these merlon-like members are provided. In a first direction, they include between themselves a first, most frequently large groove GN and, in a second direction, a second, most frequently smaller groove KN. A latching surface with a narrowed accessing cross section, into which the axis of rotation of the application body 5 can be latched rotatably and non-detachably, is formed at the bottom of the smaller groove KN.

The first groove GN receives the hair strand to be pulled through the application area. The hair strand is held in contact with the application zone by means of the strand gripper 12. The guiding surfaces 10 laterally limiting the first groove reliably prevent parts of the hair strands from escaping the influence of the guiding surface 13 of the strand gripper 12 and from laterally slipping off the application area under the influence of the forces arising when a hair strand is pulled through the application area.

In its closed state, the strand gripper 12 rests in the second groove KN. By means of the supporting surfaces 9 limiting it, the second groove KN supports the strand gripper 12. Thus, even if the strand gripper is configured exceptionally narrow for better handling, the strand gripper is prevented from being entrained or bent in the longitudinal direction of the hair strand under the influence of the forces arising when a hair strand is pulled through the application area.

It must be remarked that the bottom of the second groove KN is configured as a bearing seat, namely in such a way that the axis injection-molded or fitted onto the application body 5 can be clipped in here; corresponding latching surfaces are provided.

The strand gripper 12 used by this first exemplary embodiment consists of a first functional portion 14, an adjoining transition portion not specified in detail, and a functional portion 15 adjoining this, which is configured as a spring member.

This first functional portion 14 forms a guiding surface 13 which, in the closed position of the strand gripper, completely reaches over the application zone and holds the strand in direct contact with the application zone, or most frequently even presses it onto the application zone, as it does in this case.

The first functional portion 14 is configured to be very narrow—most frequently as narrow as the material used and the forces that are to be expected during use permit without causing any interfering deformation on it. As a rule, it has a closed round or rectangular or polygonal cross section. Its largest diameter, as a rule, is smaller by a factor of 10 than its length in the direction of its longitudinal axis 18, or, as a rule, is less than 10 mm, ideally less than 7 mm. As FIGS. 1, 2 and 22 and 26 show, its width, additionally, is smaller at least by a factor of 3 than that of the second functional portion 15. In the area of its free end, the first functional portion 14 carries a barb 17. Thus, the first functional portion 14 is configured as a strand needle.

The longitudinal axis 18 of the first functional portion 14 substantially extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle 1 or of the spout 3. In this way, if the applicator is used as intended, the dispensing bottle protrudes substantially perpendicularly from the head on which the application is carried out, and is thus the least obstructive. In this case, the area of the first functional portion 14, which in the closed position comes to rest over the application body, preferably is curved such that it adapts to the external contour of the application body.

The second functional portion 15 of the strand gripper 12 forms a spring member integrated into the strand gripper. Here, this is supported on the spout 3. In order to permit a real “one-digit operation”, the spout preferably is dimensioned such that its forms a counter-bearing which is not deformed appreciably under the influence of the regularly arising, unilaterally acting forces, that is, does not require any support by a second finger.

The integrated spring element lengthens under the influence of a compression force acting on the spring member, and thus lifts the first functional portion 14 from the application zone. For this purpose, two leaf springs arranged so as to extend in mutually opposite directions are formed on the second functional portion 15, which are curved such that they lengthen together under the influence of a compression force. These leaf springs, given an appropriate design, an appropriately rigid configuration of the nozzle 1 and an ergonomic dimensioning of the bottle, can be compressed with a single finger of the hand holding the bottle of the applicator, that is, preferably with the thumb or the index finger. Thus, the strand gripper 12 permits a real one-handed operation.

Due to this lengthening, the first functional portion 14 is moved substantially transversely to its longitudinal axis 18. Its stroke length, preferably 1 to 3 cm, is selected such that the first functional portion 14 is lifted off the application zone so far that it can be used conveniently as a strand needle, that is, that it can be used to reach behind a new hair strand to be dyed in a next step and to separate it. For this purpose, the first functional portion 14, which is configured accordingly, is used as a kind of hook which reaches behind the hair strand in an angle of about 70° to 130°, relative to its own longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the hair strand to be gripped. The barb 17 facilitates separating a strand and subsequently prevents the hair strand gripped by the first functional portion 14 from laterally slipping over the free end of the first functional portion 14 inadvertently.

Once the pressure on the spring member is lifted, the first functional portion 14 is pulled back into its closed position. In the process, the first functional portion 14 takes the hair strand resting on its guiding surface 13 with it and brings it into direct contact with the application zone. In the concrete exemplary embodiment, the spring member is configured such that it is still under a certain tension when the hair strand fed by the guiding surface 13 already comes to rest on the application area. Thus, the hair strand is not only placed on the application area without clearance, but is actively pressed against the application area.

On its side facing away from the first functional portion 14, the strand gripper 12 is equipped with a holding means 19, which in this case is configured in an annular shape. This holding means 19 is pushed over the nozzle 1 or its spout 3 and fixed there, preferably latched on, for example onto the bead 20 provided on the spout 3 for this purpose. In this case, the holding means 19 or the spout 3 are preferably configured such that the holding means 19 can be attached correctly to the spout 3 only in a certain orientation. In the present exemplary embodiment, this is provided for by a kind of fitting key 21. In any case, the holding means 19 can be non-rotatably attached to the spout 3. Thus, there is the possibility of equipping the spout 3, as required, with differently configured strand grippers or of deciding to use the spout 3 without a strand gripper being installed beforehand. This increases acceptance in particular with regard to applicators which are intended for the normal consumer, because the consumer is able to use the applicator as he is able to manage best.

FIGS. 13 to 15 show the application body configured as a rotating brush. The brush has individual bristles 22 protruding in the radial direction. These bristles taper towards the outside in the radial direction. Preferably, they are configured cone-shaped and are molded on. They frequently consist of an elastomer or at least a quasi-elastomeric plastic. In many cases, they are attached to or molded onto a basic body consisting of a harder plastic, which is in that case often fabricated integrally with the axis of the application body. However, the application body, because of its very short bristles, can also consist of a comparatively less flexible plastic, including a configuration which could be called “bump roller”. It can in that case be manufactured extremely rationally, because the basic body, the bristles or the bristle discs and the axis butts on both sides can in this case be manufactured integrally, preferably by injection molding.

Such bristles have the required stability for not buckling prematurely under the influence of the strand gripper 12 or its guiding surface 13. The bristles are disposed side-by-side in circular rows, with all bristles of one circular row lying one behind the other. Thus, a circular intermediate space 23 that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed between the bristles of neighboring rows. The hairs of the hair strand respectively treated thus separate into individual tufts which thus lay themselves into said intermediate spaces 23. Thus, the bristles of the application body grip through the hair strand uniformly, whereby a very uniform application of the product to be treated is produced.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show an alternative embodiment for the application body configured as a rotating brush. This alternative brush alternately has different rows of bristles. In this case, a row of individual radially protruding bristles alternate with a peripheral disc-shaped bristle. This disc-shaped bristle replaces a complete row of individual bristles peripheral in the circumferential direction.

Though a rotating brush thus equipped has slightly smaller clearance spaces that can be charged with the product to be applied, it is capable of penetrating the hair strand to be treated even more strongly and separate it into individual tufts.

FIGS. 19 to 21 show another alternative embodiment for the application body configured as a rotating brush. In this case, all the bristles of a peripheral row are merged into a single peripheral disc-shaped bristle, so to speak. Such a configuration at least partially divides the strand to be treated into individual partial strands and thus facilitates the penetration of the strand by the product to be applied.

However, the applicator does not inevitably have to comprise a bottle. Instead, the nozzle 1 shown by FIG. 1 can, for example, also be screwed onto a handle, which is supplied with the product stored at a very different location via a flexible supply line and by means of a dosing pump, and which in that case approximately resembles an airbrush spray gun externally. There is, however, the difference that the product to be applied is not supplied pneumatically in accordance with the Venturi principle, but by pumping the product to be applied.

It must be remarked further that, in the case of very simple embodiments of the applicator according to the invention, the application body (i.e. the rotatable brush or the like), which is very advantageous per se, can be dispensed with. The hair strand is in that case pulled over an appropriately configured sliding surface in the application zone, which has one or more mouth openings from which the product to be applied is discharged into the application zone.

Regardless of how the nozzle 1 is being used, it is generally expedient to configure it as a disposable article, for reasons of hygiene and a greatest possible ease of use—with the invention, with its very simple configuration, being very convenient for this.

FIGS. 27 a to 37 show a second exemplary embodiment of the applicator according to the invention which is also designed for dyeing fine strands of fibers or hair (or “strands of keratinic fibers”), the diameter of which is, as a rule, less than 1.5 millimeters and most frequently is about 0.5 millimeters.

The applicator described in the context of this second exemplary embodiment differs from that of the first exemplary embodiment only by its strand gripper 12, while it readily can be or is provided with an application body, as was described above for the first exemplary embodiment (the application body is not shown again in the drawings for the second exemplary embodiment, because only the differences of the strand gripper are being illustrated). Thus, the entire nozzle 1 matches that of the first exemplary embodiment, so that the statements regarding the latter also apply with regard to the second exemplary embodiment.

As can best be explained with reference to FIG. 31, the strand gripper 12 of this second exemplary embodiment consists of two arms. In the closed position, one of these arms has an inner first functional portion 24, a transition portion 25 adjoining it and a second functional portion 26, which in turn adjoins that and forms a spring. The inner functional portion 24 in this case forms the guiding surface 13 which, in the closed position of the strand gripper, completely reaches over the application zone and holds the strand in direct contact with the application zone. The longitudinal axis 18 of the inner first functional portion 24 substantially extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle 1 or of the spout 3.

In the closed position, the other one of these arms has an outer first functional portion 27, a transition portion 25 adjoining it and a second functional portion 26, which in turn adjoins that and also forms a spring. The two springs of the second functional portions 26 are supported on the corresponding spout 3, but are generally arranged such that, relative to each other, the forces exerted by them on the spout cancel each other out, which makes a particularly rugged configuration of the spout dispensable.

The two springs are configured such that the two transition portions 25 substantially pivot about or in the region of the point P in a butterfly-like manner with their first functional portions 24 or 27, when a compression force is respectively applied to the two transition portions 25 in the region where they overlap the second functional portions 26 (compare FIG. 33, arrows F). In this case, the springs or arms are configured such that the arms pivot outwardly by an angle of approximately 5° to 15° relative to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle or its spout 3, again, see FIG. 33. In the process, the compression forces indicated by the arrows F, given a suitable dimensioning of the strand gripper and a design of the dispensing bottle that is appropriately suitable for gripping, can be applied by the thumb of the user exerting the first compression force, and the index digit the second, while the rest of the hand holds the dispensing bottle. Thus, a convenient one-handed operation of the applicator is ensured also in the case of this embodiment.

The first inner functional portion 24, in any case, is configured to be very narrow—most frequently as narrow as the material used and the forces that are to be expected during use permit without causing any interfering deformation on it. As a rule, it has a closed round or rectangular or polygonal cross section. Its largest diameter, as a rule, is smaller by a factor of 5 than its length in the direction of its longitudinal axis 18 (see, for example, FIG. 34), or, as a rule, is less than 10 mm, ideally less than 7 mm. As is also illustrated by FIG. 34, its width (in the direction transverse to its longitudinal axis 18), additionally, is smaller at least by a factor of 3 than that of the transition portion 25 of the rest of the arm. Expediently, the first inner functional portion 24 has a rectangular cross section. In the area of its free end, the first inner functional portion 24 carries a barb 17, see in particular FIG. 32.

Thus, the first inner functional portion 24 is again configured as a strand needle.

As intended, it is used to reach behind a new hair strand to be dyed in a next step and to separate it. For this purpose, the first functional portion 24, which is configured accordingly, is used as a kind of hook which reaches behind the hair strand in an angle of about 70° to 130°, relative to its own longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of the hair strand to be gripped. The barb 17 facilitates separating a strand and subsequently prevents the hair strand gripped by the first functional portion 24 from laterally slipping over the free end of the first functional portion 24 inadvertently.

As soon as the hair strand selected for the next application step is laid on the inner first functional portion 24 used as a strand needle or rests on its guiding surface 13, the user terminates the pressure on the transition portions 25. Under the influence of the spring force, the arms now pivot back into their closed position. In the process, the inner first functional portion 24 takes the hair strand selected with it and rests it on the application zone, thus bringing it into direct contact with the application zone. In the process, the inner functional portion 24 evenly distributes the hairs or hair tufts of the strand over the application zone in a certain manner, because it progressively sweeps over the application zone from the outside towards the inside until it reaches its completely closed position.

During all of this, the outer first functional portion 27 pivots over the inner functional portion 24 and supports it on the its side facing away from the strand, such that the inner first functional portion 24 is not bent up substantially even if, during the use of the applicator, larger forces should act on the inner functional portion 24 or its guiding surface 13 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle 1 or its spout 3. Preferably, the outer contact surface of the inner functional portion 24 is configured convex and the inner contact surface of the outer functional portion is configured concave, so that an action locking in the pivoting direction results from the friction between the two functional portions 24 and 27.

On its side facing away from the first functional portions 24 and 27, the strand gripper 12, also in this exemplary embodiment, is equipped with a holding means 19, which in this case is configured in an annular shape. This holding means 19 is pushed over the nozzle 1 or its spout 3 and fixed there. The holding means of this second exemplary embodiment is configured as already described for the corresponding holding means of the first exemplary embodiment.

In summary, the following can be stated with regard to the two exemplary embodiment just described:

The guiding surface 13 of the strand gripper 12 reaches over the application zone in the direction transverse to the direction in which the strand is pulled through the applicator and thus ensures that the strand remains in sufficient contact with the applicator device. Preferably, the guiding surface 13 presses the strand onto the applicator device. In this case, the guiding surface 13 of the strand gripper of this exemplary embodiment, both in the case of a released strand gripper as well as in the case of a closed strand gripper, extends in a direction substantially or almost exactly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the interior channel 6 and/or the spout 3.

In this case, the strand gripper 12 comprises at least one integrated spring portion, which is deformed such that the strand gripper 12 is transferred into its released position under the influence of a compression force applied onto the strand gripper 12 by the user.

Said spring portion or the strand gripper 12, as a whole, is configured such that the compression force required for transferring the strand gripper 12 into the released position can be exerted by the user using two fingers.

The spring portion is configured such that, under the influence of the compression force exerted by the user, it is deformed such that the portion 14 of the strand gripper providing the guiding surface 13 executes a linear movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis 18.

The portion 14 of the strand gripper providing the guiding surface 13 forms a strand needle, which, in the released position of the strand gripper 12, can reach behind an individual strand in order to select it and feed it to the application zone.

The portion 14 of the strand gripper 12 providing the guiding surface 13 tapers compared with the portion 15 of the strand gripper 12 adjoining it.

The portion of the strand gripper 12 providing the guiding surface 13 is configured as a strand needle, the maximum cross-sectional diameter of which is considerably smaller than its extent in the direction of its longitudinal axis 18.

The portion providing the guiding surface 13, in the area of its free end, carries a barb 17.

The strand gripper 12 comprises an annular holding collar 19 by means of which it can be pushed over a tubular portion of the applicator device 8 and fixed there. 

1. Applicator, comprising: an applicator device for applying a product fed from a separate supply to an application zone on a strand of hair or fiber; a strand gripper that can be moved back and forth between a closed position and a released position, which at least serves for guiding a strand in a region of the application zone using a guiding surface provided thereon for this purpose; and an application body mounted on the applicator device such that the application body rotates when a hair or fiber strand is pulled through the intermediate space formed between the application body and the guiding surface of the strand gripper.
 2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the guiding surface, in the closed position of the gripper, retains the strand in contact with the application body.
 3. The applicator according to claim 2, wherein the application body, in the region in which it can be brought into contact with the strand as intended, has a ball-like or drum-like external outline.
 4. The applicator according to claim 2, wherein the application body, in the region of a surface that can be brought into contact with the strand as intended, consists of a soft elastic material or an elastomeric material.
 5. The applicator according to claim 2, wherein the application body, in the region of a surface that can be brought into contact with the strand as intended, consists of a material and/or has a surface profile which, taking into account the product that is to be applied as intended with the applicator, has a high friction with regard to the strands to be treated as intended with the applicator even in a wetted state, such that the applicator rolls on the respectively treated strand grip substantially uniformly while the latter is pulled through the applicator.
 6. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the application body has a covering of radially outwardly protruding bristles or bristle discs.
 7. The applicator according to claim 6, wherein the bristles or bristle discs are configured to be integral with the application body or at least a surface sealing the application body towards the outside.
 8. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator device has an interior channel in the area of whose mouth an application body, preferably in a bristle-like form, is rotatably retained, wherein the side of the application body facing away from the mouth is charged with the product fed via the channel and applies the product during its rotation.
 9. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator device has an interior channel, via which the product to be applied is fed from a supply, wherein a narrowed portion of the channel having a dosing effect is provided in a region of a mouth of the channel.
 10. The applicator according to claim 9, wherein the narrowed portion with a dosing effect is disposed so far upstream of the mouth that a chamber is formed, between the mouth and the narrowed portion, with a cross section that is wider compared with the narrowed portion, into which chamber a part of the application body dips.
 11. The applicator according to claim 8, wherein the application body and the mouth are adapted to each other such that the application body substantially seals the mouth such that, between the application body and the mouth, only a defined gap remains free, through which the rotating application body carries the product to be applied outside.
 12. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator device has a mouth via which the product fed from a supply escapes, wherein the applicator device, in the region of its mouth, has guiding surfaces which prevent a strand pulled in its longitudinal direction over the mouth from slipping into an area outside of the mouth.
 13. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator device has a mouth via which the product fed from a supply escapes, wherein the applicator device, in the region of the mouth, has supporting surfaces against which the strand gripper can support itself under the influence of the forces that a strand pulled in its longitudinal direction over the mouth exerts on it.
 14. The applicator according to claim 13, wherein the application body comprises an axis which is preferably integrally molded onto it.
 15. The applicator according to claim 14, wherein the axis of the application body is latched on both sides into a seat on the applicator which retains it substantially stationary but rotatably.
 16. The applicator according to claim 15, wherein each of the two seats is formed between two merlon-like members. 